Zach Apple wins gold with U.S. 4×100 free relay team

The Auburn Tigers are doing well in Tokyo!

TOKYO, Japan – Former Auburn swimmer Zach Apple pulled away on the final leg of the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay Tuesday morning to secure the gold medal for Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

It’s the first Olympic gold medal won by a current or former Auburn swimmer since the 2012 London Games when Tyler McGill and Eric Shanteau both won gold as part of Team USA’s 4×100 medley relay team.

Apple, who is second-fastest in Auburn history in the 100 freestyle, swam the anchor leg for the United States in both the heat and the final. The U.S. team finished the final with a time of 3:08.97, edging out Italy (3:10.11) and Australia (3:10.22) for first place.

Former Tiger Marcelo Chierighini also swam in Tuesday’s final, anchoring the Brazil relay team that took eighth, finishing in 3:13.41. It was the third Olympics for Chierighini, a 22-time All-American at Auburn from 2010-2014.

Swimming begins with Olympic debut from Adriel Sanes

Here’s an update for Auburn in Tokyo.

The swimming portion of the 2020 Olympic Games started Saturday from the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, and first up among the Auburn contingent in Tokyo was first-time Olympian Adriel Sanes swimming the men’s 100 breaststroke for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Sanes, an incoming transfer from the University of Denver, finished third in his heat and 42nd overall with a time of 1:02.43 – narrowly missing his personal best (1:02.41), which is also the record for the fastest time in U.S. Virgin Islands’ history.

It was the first of two events Sanes is competing in at the 2020 Olympics. He’s slated to swim the men’s 200 breaststroke on Tuesday with heats beginning at 5:50 a.m. CT.

In Friday’s Opening Ceremony, Sanes served as the flag bearer for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Swimming begins with Olympic debut from Adriel Sanes

Here’s an update for Auburn in Tokyo.

The swimming portion of the 2020 Olympic Games started Saturday from the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, and first up among the Auburn contingent in Tokyo was first-time Olympian Adriel Sanes swimming the men’s 100 breaststroke for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Sanes, an incoming transfer from the University of Denver, finished third in his heat and 42nd overall with a time of 1:02.43 – narrowly missing his personal best (1:02.41), which is also the record for the fastest time in U.S. Virgin Islands’ history.

It was the first of two events Sanes is competing in at the 2020 Olympics. He’s slated to swim the men’s 200 breaststroke on Tuesday with heats beginning at 5:50 a.m. CT.

In Friday’s Opening Ceremony, Sanes served as the flag bearer for the U.S. Virgin Islands.